Torsional impelling device for game projectiles



Sept. 19, 1967 c. L. PAYNE, JR 3,342,49

TORSIONAL IMPELLING DEVICE FOR GAME PROJECTILES Filed June 26, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CA4 v/A/ A. PAY/v5 J7.

BY MW p 1967 c. PAYNE, JR

TORSIONAL IMPELLING DEVICE FOR GAME PROJECTILES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1965 INVENTOR. CAL v// A. PAYNE JK Sept. 19, 1967 Filed June 26, 1963 C. L. PAYNE, JR

TORSIONAL IMPELLING DEVICE FOR GAME PROJECTILES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mill" INVENTOR BY MW ATTOENEYS United States Patent 3,342,490 TORSIONAL IMPELLING DEVICE FOR GAME PROJECTILES Calvin L. Payne, Jr., Yonkers, N.Y.,assignor to Tudor Metal Products Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 26, 1963, Ser. No. 290,839 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-89) This invention relates to an indoor game with movable player member and the invention has particular reference to a game of said character with means for manually actuating the player member.

An object of the invention is to provide an indoor game simulating the game of baseball, track meet game and the like having manually activated means for effecting movement of a player member such as a baseball pitcher, baseball batter or a shot putter, javelin thrower, a pole vaulter and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a player member which is manually actuated by a participant in playing the game and which is automatically brought to a sudden stop for effecting the throwing or casting of an element of the game.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an indoor game with a manually actuated torsion device on which the playing member is mounted for eflFecting turning movement thereof in playing the game.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a game simulating the game of baseball and having torsion devices constructed in accordance with the invention for turning playing members thereof.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the underside of one of the torsion devices in retracted relation.

FIG. 3-is a similar view of the torsion devices tensioned for effecting rotation of the playing member.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the torsion devices and one of the player members and a player element in separated juxtaposition.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the torsion devices mounted for rotation on the panel and with the player member in juxtaposition thereto.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a track meet game provided with a torsion device constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 8 is an underside View thereof.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, the invention is illustrated therein in its application to an indoor game simulating the game of baseball and which is provided with manually actuated torsion devices for effecting turning movement of the pitcher and the batter in playing the game.

Each of the torsion devices includes a hub 10 having a central portion 11 which is provided with means for releasably mounting a player member such as a player member 12 simulating the pitcher in one of the torsion devices and for receiving a playing member 13 simulating a batter in the other torsion device. As illustrated, the central portion 11 is centrally recessed and is apertured as at 14 and is formed with slits 15 in the upper face thereof. The slitted upper portion is formed with outwardly extending projections 16 which are sufiiciently flexible to permit forcing the same through an opening 17 in the "ice panel 18 forming the playing area of the game for rotatably mounting the hub 10 in the panel and with the playing members disposed in operative position thereabove. One of the openings 17 is arranged in the pitchers box for disposing the playing member 12 simulating the pitcher at the proper location, while the other opening 17 is located in the batters box for receiving the playing member 13 representing the batter.

Each of the playing members 12 and 13 is formed with a bifurcated lower end 20 and with an undercut 21 below a base 2-2 and with radially arranged vanes 23 disposed above said base. The bifurcated lower end 20 is sufficiently flexible to permit the forcing of the same through the central opening 14 to releasably secure the playing member on the central portion 11 of the hub with the apertured portion 14 snugly fitting the undercut 21 and the vanes 23 slidably engaging the slits 15.

Each of the torsion devices also includes an actuating member 24 having a straight portion 25 and a curved spring inner portion 26 which is afilxed to the periphery of the hub and normally extends about a major peripheral portion thereof. The straight portion 25 protrudes through an opening 27 in the side wall of the frame 28 mounting the panel 18 and is formed with a stop 29 adapted to engage the frame for limiting the outward movement thereof.

It will be understood that when the torsion devices are in the retracted position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the playing members 12 and 13 representing the pitcher and batter are disposed in confronting relation as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and when the actuating member 24 thereof are pulled outwardly the playing members are turned in opposite directions.

The pulling of the actuating member outwardly unwinds the curved spring portions 26 and which upon release of the actuating members functions to rapidly swing the playing member 12 representing the pitcher so as to throw a playing element such as a ball 30 toward the batter. The release of the other actuating member functions to swing the playing member 13 representing the batter for hitting the playing element or ball 30 thrown by the pitcher. The upper portion of the playing member .13 is in the form of a bat.

The playing element or ball 30 has a permanent magnet 31 embedded therein which is exposed at opposite sides thereof so that the same will be attracted to the base 18 which is of sheet metal and the like. The upper portion of the playing member 12 consists of a tube 32 hav ing an end wall 33 and an open forward end provided with a forwardly projecting curved lower lip 34. In order to project the playing element or ball. from the playing member 12, the hub 10 is formed with an upwardly projecting lug 35 which protrudes through an arcuate slot 36 in the panel 18. With the release of the actuating member 24 thereof the lug 35 moves in the slot 36 and engages against the end thereof so as to bring the playing mem' ber to a sudden stop. This causes the playing element or ball 30 to be projected from the tube 32 of said playing member.

In FIGS. 7 to 9 inclusive of the drawings, a torsion device is employed in a track meet game for effecting movement of playing members such as shot-putter, javelin thrower, pole vaulter, and the like. The torsion device is similar to the torsion devices in the previously described forms and includes a hub 41 having a central portion 42. An actuating member 43 is affixed to the periphery of the hub and includes a straight portion 44 and a curved inner spring portion 45 which normally extends about a major portion of the hub. The hub is mounted for rotation in a panel 46 forming the playing area for the track meet game with the straight portion 44 of the actuating member protruding through the side wall of the frame 47 mounting the panel. The straight portion 44 is provided with a stop lug 48 adapted to limit the outward movement thereof.

The torsion device is adapted to releasably mount a playing member 49 representing a shot-putter which is turned by the spring portion 45 to effect throwing of the shot. The straight portion 44 of the actuating member 43 is adapted to optionally mount a javelin thrower, pole vaulter and the like, and a playing member 50 is illustrated representing a javelin thrower. The said playing member is provided with a transversely slotted base 51 which is adapted to be releasably mounted on a rib 52 formed on the straight portion 44 of the actuating member and which protrudes through a slot 53 in the panel 46. With the release of the actuating member 43, the rib 52 moves along the slot 53 and upon engagement of the stop element 54 with the end of the slot, the player member mounted on the rib 52 as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings is suddenly halted so as to effect throwing of the javelin carried by the player member.

It will be understood that the inner spring portion of the torsion devices unwinds with the outward pulling of the actuating member so as to bias the hub for rotation when the actuating member is released. This eifects rotation of the hub and the player member mounted thereon and when the player member 12 representing the pitcher, the player member 49 representing the shot-putter and the player member 50 representing the javelin thrower are brought to a sudden stop the elements carried by these player members are thrown forwardly.

The actuating members 24 and 43 of the torsion devices are formed integrally with the hubs thereof and are of thermoplastic material which provides the spring portions 26 and 45 thereof respectively with inherent ability to unwind and return to their normal formation upon release of the actuating members.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited but shall cover and include any and all modifications thereof which fall within the purview of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an indoor game including a panel representing the playing area of the game and which is mounted on a border frame, a torsion device mounted for rotation in the panel and projecting therethrough, a player member representing one of the elements of the game, said player member having means for impelling a game projectile, interengageable means carried by said player member and said torsion device releasably connecting said player member to said torsion device for movement with said torsion device and with the player member disposed vertically above said panel, and a manually actuated member including an arcuately curved inner spring portion connected with said torsion device and an outer portion means directly connected to said spring portion and freely protruding through said frame and adapted to be pulled outwardly for unwinding said spring portion which upon release of said actuating member functions to rotate the torsion device and the player member mounted thereon, said panel having an arcuate slot and said torsion device having a lug disposed in said slot with one end of the slot constituting a stop means for said player member.

2. In an indoor game including a panel representing the playing area of the game and which is mounted on a border frame, a torsion device mounted for rotation in the panel and projecting therethrough, a player member representing one of the elements of the game, said player member having means for releasably carrying a game projectile, interengageable means carried by said player member and said torsion device releasably mounting said player member for movement with said torsion device and with the player member disposed above said panel, and a manually actuated member including an arcuately curved inner spring portion connected with said torsion device and an outer portion freely protruding through said frame, a second torsion device mounted for rotation in said panel, a second player member representing another element of the game, interengageable means carried by said second player member and said second torsion device releasably mounting said second player member above said panel, and said manually actuated member being adapted to be pulled outwardly for unwinding said arcuately curved inner spring portion which upon release of said actuating member functions to rotate said first torsion member and effect movement of said player member, said panel and said first torsion device being provided with stop means for suddenly arresting the movement of said torsion device with the release of the actuating member to thereby effect throwing of said game projectile by said first player member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS.

1,173,818 2/1916 Lins 273-872 2,382,328 8/1945 Munro 273- 2,382,329 8/1945 Munro 273-129 2,622,700 12/1952 Geyer -37 3,246,897 4/1966 Waldrop 273-101 FOREIGN PATENTS 815,619 4/1937 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Examiner. s. gLp s. NATTER, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN AN INDOOR GAME INCLUDING A PANEL REPRESENTING THE PLAYING AREA OF THE GAME AND WHICH IS MOUNTED ON A BORDER FRAME, A TORSION DEVICE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN THE PANEL AND PROJECTING THERETHROUGH, A PLAYER MEMBER REPRESENTING ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE GAME, SAID PLAYER MEMBER HAVING MEANS FOR IMPELLING A GAME PROJECTILE, INTERENGAGEABLE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID PLAYER MEMBER AND SAID TORSION DEVICE RELEASABLY CONNECTING SAID PLAYER MEMBER TO SAID TORSION DEVICE FOR MOVEMENT WITH SAID TORSION DEVICE AND WITH THE PLAYER MEMBER DISPOSED VERTICALLY ABOVE SAID PANEL, AND A MANUALLY ACTUATED MEMBER INCLUDING AN ARCUATELY CURVED INNER SPRING PORTION CONNECTED WITH SAID TORSION DEVICE AND AN OUTER PORTION MEANS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO SAID SPRING PROTION AND FREELY PROTRUDING THROUGH SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TO BE PULLED OUTWARDLY FOR UNWINDING SAID SPRING PORTION WHICH UPON RELEASE OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER FUNCTIONS TO ROTATE THE TORSION DEVICE AND THE PLAYER MEMBER MOUNTED THEREON, SAID PANEL HAVING AN ARCUATE SLOT AND SAID TORSION DEVICE HAVING A LUG DISPOSED IN SAID SLOT WITH ONE END OF THE SLOT CONSTITUTING A STOP MEANS FOR SAID PLAYER MEMBER. 